The Top 8 Best Cigars of 2023

With whiskey in hand, you settle down for a leisurely smoke. But, did you pick the right cigar? With a plethora of brands on the market, it can be a challenge to find something special. If you’re looking for a great smoke, you’ve come to the right place.

Below, we've compiled a list of the best cigars in 2022. It covers a broad selection of blends from various manufacturers. We talk about wrappers, flavors, aromas, and other key features. Let's dive in!  

Cohiba Robusto Cuban Cigars

Cohiba Robusto Cuban Cigars are very popular with cigar smokers and tops the list of the most purchased Cuban cigars of all time. And, it's easy to see why. These cigars have a flawless construction, with medium strength and flavor. 

The Cohiba Robusto Cigar has a brown, yellowish wrapper with a silky smooth texture.

The wrapper gives off earthy, cedar aromas while the foot has light notes of pine and spice. This cigar lights up with ease, and the first few draws produce aromas of cedar, toasted almond, and white pepper intermingled with cocoa and pine. The cigar burns perfectly, tastes great, and is perfect for relaxing on the patio after a long week.

Drew Estate Puros Huérfanos Churchill Cigar

Drew Estate Puros Huérfanos Churchill Cigar is a medium-plus new incarnation of a previously released Willy Herrera blend. 

These cigars feature a vintage leather-brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper that's evenly and nicely rolled. It has an array of base flavors like wood, malty sweetness, nuts, earth, leather, and pepper. 

The pre-light flavor may be a little cloying for some tastes, but the mix of Fig Newtons and partially fermented tobacco should offset it. When the cigar is lit, you get a salty, creamy sweetness with wood and pepper notes. The draw has a light resistance but the excellent burn produces an ideal smoking experience.

Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Seleccion No. 2  

The Epicure Selección is the latest line of cigars from the cigar manufacturer Hoyo de Monterrey that uses a blend of Honduran tobacco and a proprietary Cuban seed wrapper. 

Boasting exclusive, old-world craftsmanship, the Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure Selección has an even burn line. The initial draw leaves an aftertaste of fall rains and earthy, wet leaves. However, the Epicure Selección soon settles into a unique blend of complex flavors, including sweet wood, cedar, toasted nuts, coffee, and white pepper. 

The cigar has a solid construction, medium-full body, and medium-plus strength, which hits heavier than most Hoyos. 

Macanudo Gold LE 2022 Pyramid

Macanudo Gold Label Pyramid Cigars are limited-edition cigars made with premium Connecticut Shade Grown wrappers. It uses only the 1st and 2nd priming leaves, producing a naturally mellow, sweet taste. 

The Macanudo Gold Label Cigars come in a pale walnut color with fine veins and invisible seams.

This cigar has a complex flavor profile such as charred bay leaves, toasted bread, light cedar, and citrus mixed with vanilla. While the notes are very light, they are present in cascading abundance. This is the perfect cigar to enjoy during a calm, moonlit evening.

Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto

The Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua is a masterpiece created by the cigar master blenders Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez. It's a stunningly beautiful cigar with a smooth, medium-brown wrapper, fittingly adorned with a stylish white and gold band.

The wrapper has light veins, a fine sheen, and a solid feel. It is medium strength and has complex flavors, including fruit, butter, floral notes, cinnamon spice, cedar notes, light cocoa powder, wood, and maple syrup.

Montecristo No.2 Torpedo

Montecristo No.2 Torpedo is a classic Cuban cigar with a signature stately smoke and a pointy tip. It ranks as one of the world's best-selling cigars. Montecristo No. 2 is a favorite of cigar enthusiasts the world over, thanks to its extraordinarily potent bouquet of leather, spiced nutmeg, and cinnamon. 

The cigar has enough character to satisfy both social smokers and cigar aficionados. As with most quality products, Montecristo No.2 Torpedo gets better with age.

Rocky Patel Lb1 Toro

The Rocky Patel Lb1 cigar is named after the factory code it was given during pre-production in Honduras. This cigar is a medium-bodied smoke with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper encasing a blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran tobaccos. 

Rocky Patel Lb1 has an elegant look with white and copper embossed bands that highlight the chocolate-colored wrappers. The cigar offers a peppery start that rounds out to a smooth, satisfying brew of lemon cookie, coffee bean, sweet tobacco, and cedar on a long spicy finish. 

This cigar is ideal for intermediate to expert level cigar smokers looking for rich, spicy cigars with a fair amount of complexity.

Punch Knuckle Buster Cigar Natural Toro

The Punch Knuckle Buster is the latest addition to the Punch brand by General Cigar Company and is positioned as a medium-strength, value-priced contemporary cigar. 

It features a Nicaraguan Habano forward blend with Nicaraguan tobacco in the filler, binder, and wrapper. The wrapper has a navy blue circular field with silver trim and slightly visible veins along the seams. 

The pre-light draw delivers a mix of natural tobacco sweetness, earthiness, and cedar, and when lit, you get notes of black pepper, hay, natural tobacco, and earth. Punch Knuckle Buster maintains a straight burn line and path, and the resulting ash is nearly white.

Whether you're an experienced or beginner cigar smoker, the above options provide an all-around great experience. 

Most importantly, these cigars set you apart from the rest of the crowd. With their beguiling flavors, you’ll enjoy every puff to the satisfying end.

The Best Tasting Cigars in 2022

All cigars have their own unique flavor and aroma. Whether you prefer the zest of citrusy orange or the sweet notes of chocolate and vanilla, you can find a flavorful cigar that hits all the right taste buds. In today's market, cigars come in any flavor that you can imagine, but the best options have the the perfect combination of flavor, smoke, and quality. To expand your collection of cigars, take a look at three of the best tasting cigars in 2022: San Cristobal Quintessence, Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition, and Bolivar Royal Coronas.

San Cristobal Quintessence Is Sweet and Savory

Holt's Cigar Company features the San Cristobal Quintessence cigar as an intense blend of sweet and savory notes. With a 92-point rating on Cigar Aficionado, this cigar is blended to perfection in Nicaragua. The San Cristobal Quintessence has hints of molasses, coffee, and pepper. It comes in four different shapes for you choose from: robusto, belicoso, gordo, and toro. If you enjoy small hints of dried fruit and a strength that is in between medium and full, this cigar will exceed your expectations.

Try the Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition for a Sweet Treat

If you have a sweet tooth and prefer sweet-tasting cigars, The Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition is a great choice to consider. This high-quality cigar combines four sweet flavors perfectly: espresso, dark fruit, toasted vanilla, and chocolate. This medium-bodied cigar features a Mexican San Andres wrapper and is available in three sizes: toro, robusto, and sixty. The Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition is box shaped, measuring 6.5 inches in length.

The Bolivar Royal Coronas Brings the Spice

The Cuban Bolivar Royal Coronas packs spice and flavor. With a smoke strength between medium and full, and a "robusto" shape, this in-demand cigar will not disappoint you. Although there are a few complaints about minor construction details, the majority of customers are pleased with this cigar, stating that it's one of their go-to cigars for an post-dinner smoke. This spicy Cuban cigar has a ring gauge of 50 and is 4 and 7/8 inches long.

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